In this November remembrance month the Metropolitan Police Choir were singing again on Tuesday afternoon – this time in a solemn Requiem Mass for deceased police officers and staff. The Mass was celebrated by His Eminence the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols and organised by the Catholic Police Guild. High-ranking and front line police officers and staff including the Met Commissioner travelled from all across the country and Northern Ireland for the service which took place in Westminster Cathedral. After the service the wreaths and the National Police Roll of Honour were placed at the National Police Memorial in Horse Guards.
Looking towards the main door of Westminster Cathedral before the service
It was a very special occasion as it marked the 100th anniversary since the first Requiem Mass was held in 1923. We’d like to thank everyone at Westminster Cathedral for their help today and especially Christopher Too, the current organ scholar at the cathedral. who accompanied us so beautifully on the mighty Westminster Cathedral organ.
The MPC have been the accompanying choir for this Mass for a number of years and it is always a privilege to support the Guild in its work to remember those officers and staff who have gone before. Our music today included Rachmaninov’s Ave Maria, Mozart’s Lacrimosa and Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine.
The Archbishop of Westminster and some of the guests at the service
For some of the choristers it was their first experience of performing at the Mass and one of our tenors Brooklyn, eloquently summed up his thoughts saying “the 100th anniversary carried significant weight and pressure for us to perform and the display of sheer professionalism from every force’s standard bearers with their flags and smartly turned out uniforms compelled me to try my hardest to bring serenity and comfort to the audience through the music”.
After the performance Musical Director Richard Fox said he was very proud of the choir, the musicality shown today and how the music had sounded in this wonderful acoustic. He also confirmed that we will be back next year!
Members of the choir in the Cathedral choir stalls.
Choristers rehearsing in the Cathedral choir room